Last Modified: Wednesday, February 8, 2012 at 9:01 a.m.

House Minority Leader Craig Ford said Tuesday he wants to restart a discussion about a state lottery as an answer to Alabama's recurring budget problems.

In the Democratic response to Republican Gov. Robert Bentley's State of the State address to a joint legislative session, Ford said if Bentley vows no new taxes, alternatives to dramatic budget cuts will need consideration.

“This is the time to reissue the lottery talk,” Ford said.

“I think we need to look at all the options.”

In his speech, Bentley said he would veto any new tax and would protect several state government and education programs, but would cut spending and even consolidate some agencies in order to meet the constitutional mandate of balanced budgets. He didn't name the agencies destined for cuts.

“The people of this state expect us to live within our means, and that's exactly what we're going to do,” Bentley said.

Bentley's finance director, Marquita Davis, said earlier that taxes and other revenues that support both the Education Trust Fund and General Fund will not be sufficient to cover all demands for services.

The budgets likely will receive even less money next year than this year, she said.

“We face a major funding shortfall in our General Fund,” Bentley said. “We have 25 percent less money to provide basic services.”

Ford, D-Gadsden, said Alabama loses money to lottery states of Florida, Georgia and Tennessee.

“Why not keep the money here?” Ford said.

“It would be a constitutional amendment to let the people vote.”

Ford said lottery proceeds could be split “50/50” between education and general government.

Ford said the timing may not be right to introduce lottery legislation this year, but maybe it will be next year.

“I'd like to develop a dialogue,” he said. “It's time to think outside the box.”

Gov. Don Siegelman campaigned on a state lottery for education in 1998, but Alabama voters defeated it in 1999 after questions were raised about its governance.

Bentley didn't mention a lottery but Rep. John Merrill, R-Tuscaloosa, said that Bentley campaigned on allowing voters to consider electronic bingo.

“At some point in the four years he's ... governor he's going to introduce that as a concept,” Merrill said. “I don't know whether it will happen this year or not, it's up to the governor.”

Ford also said Democrats oppose charter schools that would “divert $200 million from underfunded classrooms.”

Reaction was partisan.

Rep. Chris England of Tuscaloosa, one of the few Democrats to attend Bentley's speech, said “obviously there are certain things that we disagree with.”

“We should exhaust all our education options for public schools before we start charter schools,” England said.

Ford noted that Bentley didn't mention immigration and any planned fix to the law passed last year that is "giving us a black eye."

<p>MONTGOMERY — House Minority Leader Craig Ford said Tuesday he wants to restart a discussion about a state lottery as an answer to Alabama's recurring budget problems.</p><p>In the Democratic response to Republican Gov. Robert Bentley's State of the State address to a joint legislative session, Ford said if Bentley vows no new taxes, alternatives to dramatic budget cuts will need consideration.</p><p>“This is the time to reissue the lottery talk,” Ford said. </p><p>“I think we need to look at all the options.”</p><p>In his speech, Bentley said he would veto any new tax and would protect several state government and education programs, but would cut spending and even consolidate some agencies in order to meet the constitutional mandate of balanced budgets. He didn't name the agencies destined for cuts.</p><p>“The people of this state expect us to live within our means, and that's exactly what we're going to do,” Bentley said.</p><p>Bentley's finance director, Marquita Davis, said earlier that taxes and other revenues that support both the Education Trust Fund and General Fund will not be sufficient to cover all demands for services.</p><p>The budgets likely will receive even less money next year than this year, she said.</p><p>“We face a major funding shortfall in our General Fund,” Bentley said. “We have 25 percent less money to provide basic services.” </p><p>Ford, D-Gadsden, said Alabama loses money to lottery states of Florida, Georgia and Tennessee.</p><p>“Why not keep the money here?” Ford said.</p><p>“It would be a constitutional amendment to let the people vote.”</p><p>Ford said lottery proceeds could be split “50/50” between education and general government.</p><p>Ford said the timing may not be right to introduce lottery legislation this year, but maybe it will be next year.</p><p>“I'd like to develop a dialogue,” he said. “It's time to think outside the box.”</p><p>Gov. Don Siegelman campaigned on a state lottery for education in 1998, but Alabama voters defeated it in 1999 after questions were raised about its governance.</p><p>Bentley didn't mention a lottery but Rep. John Merrill, R-Tuscaloosa, said that Bentley campaigned on allowing voters to consider electronic bingo.</p><p>“At some point in the four years he's ... governor he's going to introduce that as a concept,” Merrill said. “I don't know whether it will happen this year or not, it's up to the governor.”</p><p>Ford also said Democrats oppose charter schools that would “divert $200 million from underfunded classrooms.”</p><p>Reaction was partisan.</p><p>Rep. Chris England of Tuscaloosa, one of the few Democrats to attend Bentley's speech, said “obviously there are certain things that we disagree with.”</p><p>“We should exhaust all our education options for public schools before we start charter schools,” England said.</p><p>Ford noted that Bentley didn't mention immigration and any planned fix to the law passed last year that is "giving us a black eye."</p><p>"We challenge him to lead," Ford said.</p>